Solidarity

Yesterday there was a rally in Columbia.   Oh you probably wouldn't know it if you weren't there but we took our grievances to the steps of the South Carolina State House and demanded to be heard.  Pity there was no one inside.  Only a group of students snaking their way up behind the speaker.  A young black kid started dancing like Rocky Balboa with a towel around his neck.  Honestly he looked more like the Rocky of Rocky and Bullwinkle fame.

Despite the lack of notice by those in power, for the couple hundred in attendance the cause was just.  It was a rally to support the union members in Wisconsin fighting a governor determined to strip them of their union rights.  The governor is a puppet of some of the most wealthy and powerful corporate interests in the nation, largely funded by the diabolical Koch brothers.  These right wing libertarian minded fanatics are quietly determined to fund the end of unions in America.   They pay for the Tea Party and fund their rallies.  They donate massive amounts of money to the campaigns of those that will do their bidding and the erstwhile governor of Wisconsin is hanging like a marionette in the hands of a puppet master.

So there we were.  A collection of people from young to old, black to white and all shades in between.  This is the beauty of the left.  Cause takes priority over difference and all meld into a unified voice for at least a moment.  Nah... I wish it was like that.  Actually one person will say something, other's will grumble.   For the most part however the over riding cause takes priority.  While politics vary and ideals contrast there is truly one unifier, it is simply humanity.  All are viewed with a sympathetic eye and a helping hand if they need it.

I was struck by the age of some.  People with walking canes and glossy eyes.  Gippers that remembered a different time in America.  It was a time of pride when labor was strong and built the sky scrapers that dotted our cities.  Deep within them there was a recognition of how far we have deviated from that image.

As I stood listening to the speakers, my son by my side, they spoke of wanting to see a return to an America made of people that stood together and cared for each other.  They applauded every veteran that spoke knowing that they were a representation of a person that cared so deeply, they might have offered their own life in sacrifice.

At one point this rather odd man larger than myself sauntered in front of me with a video camera attached to his eye as he panned the crowd.  He was mumbling incoherent dribble but when one speaker lead the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance he panned over to the Confederate flag hanging from a monument and narrated "See how these people are pledging their allegiance to a Confederate flag."

At that moment I had enough.  I spoke to him telling him not to mis represent people that loved their country.  He let lose a torrent of curse words of which I asked if he thought was appropriate in front of a 13 year old boy.  He continued his torrent when an older Asian woman half my size walked over and waved her American flag in front of his camera.  "You not speak bad in front of minor."  she said.

He then let loose a rant and told her people that don't speak English should get out.  She responded "I bilingual and love America."  Frankly I think her English was much better than his.

A woman moved to my right side and whispered in my ear.  "Be careful, he is not well."

"That is quite apparent." I told her.

"No seriously," she said. "he is not well, be careful."

I told the man we were here because we loved America and after a bit more hate filled dribble he moved on.  A few minutes later I noticed a State Trooper approach him and encourage him to stand further back.  He then walked over to the Confederate flag monument and commenced filming it.

When I was a child I remember my Mom, who was a teacher, striking for better pay.  She carried a picket sign and stood with her union members.  I think they actually won the fight in the end.  One of my closest friends is a teacher and standing there I felt as if I was representing her.  Unions in America have a storied past.  Somethings are good some are bad but isn't everything in life like that?  Today they are a shadow of what they once were.  They are a broken fragment of a once powerful force.  There are a few areas where they still hold some strength and like victors on a battlefield the rich and powerful seek to extinguish the embers that remain.

The facts however are undeniable.  In the first part of the last century many people fought and died for labor rights.  They fought to enshrine unions into law and in doing so gave us a legacy.  Were it not for unions there would be no 40 hour work week.  There would be no vacation time and no pension.  There would be no sick leave, health care or workers rights.  All of these were gifts that like sand on a beach are steadily eroding.    I am not represented by a union but I wish I was.  I would gladly pay my dues to unify my voice.  Some of the hate turned toward those still represented by unions is done out of envy.  Why should they receive health care and a pension when the worker at Walmart receives nothing?  Shouldn't our goal to be to bring everyone up and not tear everyone down?

I want a better country for all Americans.  Today in Wisconsin a group of people are making a stand.  They have compromised on everything except their right to be a union yet there are those that want to take that away.  Unified labor is not a drag on Democracy, it is a strength.  It is a body of people saying we have pride and we want to give an honest days work.  In exchange, we simply ask to be treated like human beings, not gears in a machine.   China, Vietnam, Somalia, Pakistan are countries without unions,  is this what we seek to emulate?

So as I stood with the young and with the old I mostly looked at the old.  I looked at those that remembered a different more prosperous time and hoped they might share with my son their secrets.  I also looked on with pride as one speaker spoke of instilling these values in our young.  In truth, that was why my 13 year old son was there.  After all, one day he will be an old man standing in a crowd and I hope with all my heart he will be looking toward the future and not reflecting on the past.